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The Charter Commission's Final Word
September 2nd, 2010

The city Charter Revision Commission has issued its final report (available here) on its six months of work.

The 219-page document includes the two proposals that will appear on the November ballot — one on term limits and the other a potpourri of measures related to “elections and government administration.” These include requiring disclosure of independent campaign expenditures, reducing the number of signatures prospective candidates must receive to qualify for the ballot and increasing the penalties for conflicts of interest. The commission did “not recommend change at this time” to loosen the mayor’s iron grip on the Conflicts of Interest Board, which seems to make members of his administration exempt from penalties, whatever their size.

The report offers background on the issue, texts of the proposed amendments and lots of supporting materials along with information on commission members, staff and procedures.

It also includes a section on items for future consideration, including nonpartisan (or to use the current parlance, top-two) elections. Although the commission heard testimony on this issue from experts and the general public, the report said, “Many commission members, regardless of their personal feelings about top-two elections, expressed doubts about placing a proposal on the ballot without further consideration.”

Amid its official tone, there are some nuggets here and there. For example, on term limits (the issue that for all intents and purposes led to creation of the commission) the report attributes the move to extend them in 2008 to the City Council. As for the mayor’s role: He established the Charter Commission and ” asked that the voters be given another opportunity to weigh in on the issue.”

Somehow that isn’t quite how we remember it.

By Gail Robinson on September 2, 2010, 4:06 pm
In category: City Hall, Gotham City, Governing | No Comments »

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